LATEST NEWS and guide to past events!!!

Welcome to the Labour International Costa Blanca Branch website. We are part of Labour
International and you can connect to the main LI site and other
branch sites using the main menus at the top and bottom of this page.

Labour International is the organisation recognised as a constituency within the Labour Party that
represents Party members and supporters who live or work abroad either temporarily or permanently.

LICBN MEMBERS MEET CAROLINE FLINT JUNE GARDEN PARTY
EASTBOURNE

Labour International Costa Blanca North May Day in Alicante

Labour Costa Blanca North and PSOE Quiz

Twenty eight LICBN and PSOE members and supporters participated in a fund raising quiz
at the Ancora, Xábia on 19th April 2012 organised by George and Pauline Stevenson. Xábia's PSOE mayor José Chulvi attended to wish everyone success!

Spanish Local Elections Sun 22nd May - congratulations to
José Chulvi and the PSOE team!!!!

GENERAL MEETING 10th May 2011 at L’Ancora, Javea at 14.30 hrs

Main Topic:
Guest Speaker
Martin Angus, LP Events Organiser 'Election 2010:What Happened, why it happened
and what we can learn'

Partnership into Power -
George Stevenson's revised proposed response

Resolution: “This branch opposes the idea for scrapping May Day put forward in the Tourism Policy Paper in February 2011
by the Tourism Minister for the Coalition Government. This day not only commemorates an ancient British rite dating
from the 4th century but is also a day for celebrating the unity of workers worldwide.
The proposal favours as a replacement a new national holiday on either St. Geroge's Day (23rd April) or
Trafalgar Day (21st October) on the pretexts of extending the tourism season and of introducing a more
nationalist event to which to rally.” Proposed by John Mackay, seconded by Kevin Bruton.

May Day 2011 - Orihuela PSOE Celebrates with LI Costa Blanca Members

Message from Christine Montano:
A few pics from Mayday. Orihuela PSOE organised a BBQ in the village of San Bartolame.
They also used the event to present their candidates for the forthcoming elections. Sarah Hill is on the platform.

14th
April - Quiz NIght in support of PSOE

A quiz to raise funds to support PSOEs local election campaign took place on Thursday 14 April
at Don Quijote on the Moraira Benitachall Road..
€7 entry fee included a single course (chili con carne or similar).
About 14 members and friends attended together with some 14 PSOE members,
including the mayoral candidate, José Chulvi. The raffle raised over
€200. The quiz was hosted by George Stevenson with a well selected
mixture of questions to suit both the Spanish and British contestants. A
very successful night in all!

Thursday April 7 PSOE Forum for Change

At 20:30 am at the Parador de Turismo de Jávea, PSOE continues the Forum for Change discussions.
On this occasion, Antoni Bernabe, Director General of TURESPAÑA, will be with us to discuss how to deal with "new challenges"
of tourism. Click here for report:
PSOE Forum for Change Tourism Apr2011

Friday, 4th March Javea Parador 8.00pm: PSOE
New Technologies and Local Government

PSOE will be welcoming José Antonio Rodriguez Salas, Mayor of
Jun (Granada) on their Forum for Change to speak on “
Open Government and Active Participation 2.0” - Open Government and Active Participation 2.0”
- how new technologies in conjunction with local government can serve the community.
Clck on image to see full details

Feb 2011 José Chulvi has been declared as the PSPV-PSOE candidate for Mayor of Xàbia in May

José Chulvi has been declared by a unanimous vote of the local party members as the PSPV-PSOE candidate for Mayor of Xàbia
in the forthcoming municipal elections in May. Click on his picture to see the full details and list of candidates.

The Future of
Socialism in Europe – George Stevenson.

Make sure you have registered to vote in the General Election!!!

One sure thing about the political calendar of 2010 is that there will be a General Election
in the UK no later than 3rd June. Although this ultimate deadline seems some time away
if you as an overseas voter want to make sure of being able to cast your vote then it would
be wise to take the first steps now. Otherwise you may find you have not left yourself enough
time to do so. The information here helps to explain what you need to do.
Make sure you can vote in the General Election!!! - Click here
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

General Meeting 12th May Royal Mail - No Privatisation - Tim Upton

On 17th March New Coalition launched the campaign for ‘Post Bank’

Royal Mail - No Privatisation Petition!

You can help by joining the fight to keep the post public. Regardless of which business you work in,
keeping your UK postal service in your ownership is crucial. If our Royal Mail is part-sold now,
it will only be a matter of time before the whole company is in private hands.
Not only will that mean massive job losses, it will also see the gradual deterioration of this vital
public service.

Labour Costa Blanca North and PSOE Xábia Celebrate May Day at Casa Pinet, Tárbena

More than forty members and supporters celebrated International Labour Day at the Casa Pinet Restaurante
in Tárbena. Also taking part in the celebrations were José Chulvi, Leader of PSPV Xábia, his wife, Mónica,
Kika Mata, Councillor, and George Thomas, PSPV Tourism Representative. Chair of LICBN, Kevin Bruton included in his address a tribute
to Jack Jones, former TGWU leader and member of the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War who died last week
aged 96 and who shared with us a celebration of May Day in the same restaurant in 2005 when on his way to
receive an honour for his participation in the Battle of the Ebro in 1938

Lord John Tomlinson - Guest Speaker 14th April - Javea

Lord John Tomlinson, former Labour MP, MEP and Parliamentary Secretary to Harold Wilson,
addressed the 14th April meeting of Labour International Costa Blanca at which there were more
than forty members including PSOE guests.

Labour International Costa Blanca North visits Alcoy

Thirty members of LICBN recently organised a day trip to Alcoy. The purpose of the visit was
twofold; to meet PSOE members of Alcoy Council and to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the
bombing of Alcoy by Italian bombers supporting Franco.
Group members were warmly welcomed in the council chamber by the Deputy Mayor Sñr. Rafael Sanus and the
PSOE group council leader, Sñr. Antonio Frances. Other PSOE councillors were there to welcome us: Sñr.Jordi Martinez and Sñra.Aroa Mira Rojano. The councillors outlined the local initiatives to improve the
infrastructure and tourist facilities, both these initiatives are supported by the Madrid Government.
There then followed a question and answer session, in the main concentrating on the impact of the
current credit crisis and the effects of the current economic downturn on employment, immigration
and businesses in the local area.
The members then visited the El Refugio Cervantes. The Cervantes Shelter is now a public museum
depicting the effects of the Civil War on Alcoy and its residents.
Originally it was one of many built during the Civil War when the citizens of Alcoy correctly
anticipated that they would become a target for Franco’s rebel forces because the town was a
stronghold for the legitimate democratically elected Republican government and of strategic
importance because of its industrial capacity and as an important munitions centre.
Between September 1938 and February 1939 over 50,000 kilos of explosives was dropped on the town
causing over 50 deaths and many injuries as well as the destruction of many homes and businesses.
The museum tells the story of how the people coped with the bombing and what conditions were like at
the time. A visit to the Cervantes shelter reveals the suffering of those who lived through such
painful times in Spanish history. Members of the group were deeply impressed by what people did to
protect themselves and alleviate the suffering of their fellow citizens.

For more information click on the picture to see John O's 'Winter in Alcoy'

Important!!

The UK political calendar of 2011 will include the referendum on 5th May on the Alternative Vote System.
The deadline for registering is Thursday, 14th April. As an overseas voter.
start the registration process now. Otherwise.........!!!! The information here helps to explain what you need to do.
Make sure you can vote in the Referendum!!! - Click here
.